She gave a respectful nod and poured him a cup. “Help yourself to cucumber finger sandwiches and biscuits.”
“Lemon biscuits are a favorite; you don’t have to ask me twice,” he said with a grin as he chose a lemon biscuit and took a bite.
They spoke of various pleasantries for a few moments until the duchess cleared her throat. “I asked you to stop by to ask you two favors.” She glanced at Katie and Paula. “This is nothing I cannot say in front of my girls.”
“I am at your service, Duchess.” He had known the duchess since leading strings and felt comfortable using his pet name, Duchess, when not in a social setting.
She smiled. “As I mentioned, there are two favors, which I hope you won’t find odious of me to ask of you. We plan to attend several of the balls during the holiday season, and I wondered if you would escort us—so that I may ensure the safety of my charges.
Sebastian didn’t hesitate. He was going to attend in any case, but this made his promise to Latham all the easier. “I would be happy to accommodate as many outings as I can.”
The duchess sat back and smiled. “Excellent,” she said, clapping her hands. “My next request might seem strange at first, but I think you will agree—a necessary one.” She glanced at Katie and then turned her gaze back to him. “I have heard of your extensive talent in the art of self-defense. And I wonder if you might give fencing lessons to Miss Latham. At least enough to help her feel more confident. She has expressed an interest in knowing more about the art and, were his countess not on the verge of delivering their first child, I know her brother, the viscount, would have taught her himself.”
“Is this true? You’d like to learn to fence?” he asked.
Katie nodded, and he recognized the same determined glint in her eyes he had seen years ago in the eyes of a young female informant in Paris. Given the danger she had undertaken, Sebastian had planned to teach his informant how to defend herself, but she was killed before he could help her. “I would be delighted to be of service.”
“Excellent! Perhaps we can begin this afternoon?” the dowager said.
“I am happy to do that. But I have one request to make,” Sebastian said, looking at Katie. “Miss Latham and I were discussing her recurring dreams where she has recalled various details of the night of the attack?—"
“I saw the faces of two of the thieves,” Katie interjected.
He nodded. “Yes. Miss Latham also mentioned that Miss Gowans is an excellent artist and perhaps could be of assistance in sketching the faces of the thieves based on Miss Latham’s descriptions.”
“A capital idea!” the dowager said. “Paula, what say you to this?”
Paula nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, I would do anything to help Katie.”
“Excellent!” the dowager proclaimed. In the meantime, I took the liberty of having an area of the ballroom prepared for a fencing lesson, complete with epees, masks, gloves, plastrons, and jackets. They used to belong to my dear husband. And Katie, dear, I’ve included the fencing jacket I used when my husband gave me lessons. I’ve noticed you are also right-handed, so it should suit. We can begin with your first lesson today.”
“T-thank you, Your Grace,” Katie replied.
Sebastian noticed Katie looked surprised, although she had not seemed so about the lessons. Was there nothing the dowager could do? The woman had truly thought of everything.
Do you fence, Your Grace?” he asked.
“Oh, my goodness,” the elderly woman replied with a dismissive flick of the wrist. “I was quite good back in the day before you were even born. As I mentioned, my dear George taught me all those years ago. I had won a wager, you see, and the duke had to, despite his reservations. But he was a wonderful teacher,” she said with a mischievous smile.
Sebastian noticed Katie’s lips twitch in humor and her eyes danced with merriment at the dowager’s story.
“That is remarkable, Your Grace,” Sebastian said. “You must have caused quite a stir back then.”
“I never stopped causing a stir, young man. Now, I do hope you will join us for dinner, Lord Soren.”
Sebastian opened and closed his mouth, feeling much like a fish. “My apologies, but I have a dinner engagement with Sir Nelson?—"
“Nonsense,” the dowager interjected with a thump of her cane. “We will invite Sir Nelson to join us here for dinner. Afterward, we can begin sketching Katie’s recollections. Franklin will see that Sir Nelson is informed of the change in plans."
Is that a sparkle he saw in the dowager’s eyes? Hopefully, she wasn’t scheming again. She was known for her penchant for matchmaking. Sebastian readily acknowledged his attraction to Katie, but marriage was another matter entirely. His work took him from place to place, certainly not conducive to having a wife and family. At least not at this juncture of his life.
Sebastian’s eyes met Katie’s and her expression was one of bemusement. He gave a little shrug and grinned. The dowager Duchess of Clarence was an unstoppable force of nature.
“Then you appear to have removed every obstacle,” Sebastian quipped. “We can begin when you are ready, Miss Latham.”
“I am ready to begin as soon as possible,” Katie said.
With the look of excitement on her face, Sebastian had a feeling it would not take Katie long to gain her footing in the sport.
